No Child Left Behind

"Our population is mostly high school age. I am the special education director, I find the program extremely valuable and nothing out there compares." Bonnie Cox, Special Education Director, Somis High School, CA

ClickN READ Phonics was derived by J. Ron Nelson, Ph. D from the extant research literature on effective reading instruction as reviewed and summarized by the National Reading Panel (NICHD, 2000), and qualifies for NCLB and Reading First funding.

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB)
Signed into law by the US President in January 2002, reauthorizing the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which was adopted in
1966. The sweeping reforms of NCLB are intended to reduce the number of
experimental programs created under the ESEA and re-focus educational
dollars on proven, research-based approaches that will help most
children to learn. In brief, NCLB calls for: annual testing of all
public school students in reading and math for grades 3-8 and high
school by the 2005-06 school year; annual report cards on school
performance for parents, voters and taxpayers ensuring that every child
reads by the 3rd grade; a highly qualified teacher in every public
school classroom by the 2005-06 school year.

What is Reading First?
Reading First is that component of NCLB that mandates reading
proficiency for all children by the third grade. Specifically, Reading
First identifies the five areas of reading instruction that have been
shown to be effective in helping children learn to read: (1) phonemic
awareness, (2) phonics, (3) vocabulary development, (4) reading
fluency, including oral reading skills, and (5) reading comprehension
strategies.

What is Early Reading First?
The Early Reading First component of NCLB is intended to prepare young
children to enter kindergarten with the necessary language, cognitive,
and early reading skills to prevent reading difficulties and ensure
school success. It is hoped that early intervention will reduce the
need to spend special needs funding on older students.

What is "scientifically-based" learning?
Scientifically based learning is "research that involves the
application of rigorous, systematic and objective procedures to obtain
reliable and valid knowledge relevant to education activities and
programs and employs systematic, empirical methods that draw on
observation or experience."